Self-Serving Prayer
By Larry Linville

O God will you heal my little pain?
It’s causing inconvenient strain.
Please send some money for my bills
so I can have life’s many thrills.
Would it help if others pray with me,
including friends across the sea?
Of course, we’ll speak with holy words
and talk of things like sheep and birds.
And if we travel really far
would you please throw in a car?
And if a friend anoints my head
while making sure good words are said,
with just the right tone in his voice,
can I have the cruise of my choice?
Would you convince my loving spouse
to borrow money for a house?

What is that you say, dear God?
You think my prayer is kinda odd?
You noticed that I ask for more
while caring nothing for the poor?
Dear God do you mean to say
my prayers really aren’t OK?
That if I’d give someone a lift
I’d give and also get a gift?
And my needs would soon be met
with goals that would lower my debt?
You say that my pain would leave
when I helped another grieve?
You say that I could change my town
if my prayers weren’t upside down?
Please God, let me follow you
and show me what I ought to do.
Please help my egotism bend
So I can go and make a friend.
Please let me know that you are sendin’
me to someone who needs tendin’.
© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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